Hydraulic pumping unit for deep wells



- Aug. 26, 1941.

A. M. GURLEY K AHYDRAULIC PUMPING UNIT FR DEEP WELLS Filed Oct. 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l MGur/ey,

mcAB ZH 95 Aug. 26, 1941. A. M. GURU-:Y Y 2,253,780

' HYDRAULIC PUMPING UNIT FOR'DEEP WELLS Filed oct. so, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 lll Maza@ mllllllm) Gurey,

f @w @Mudd/M' .12 Claims. The invention relates to pumps for oil pr water wells, particularly of the drilled `ilell type, the

-`pump being of thetype wherein the usual pumpv rod is eliminated and fluid pressure is employedv for operating a floating piston located within a working barrel at the bottom of the well.

- 'The' invention is illustratedfby reference to a pumping unit of the single acting type, although in its broadest aspects the invention is not, limited to this particular type of apparatus.

One of the objects ofthe invention is to provide a form of apparatus which may be adapted forwells of different depths, while using a standy ard surface pumping apparatus for 'supplying the necessary fluid pressure. This is "accom-i piishedv according to the present invention by properly 'regulating the respective areas ofthe power piston, of the hollow piston rod therefor and 'of the recovery piston. It is also possible to have the power piston ofa standard^size and A vary the areasof the tubular .piston rod, and of' the recovery piston, according tothe requirements of aparticular installation. y

Another object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the entire working asv sembi'y may be drawn to the surface-for iecondi-4 tioning or' replacement simply lby drawing up- April 7, 1938, now Patent No. 2,183,560 ,dated a single line ofv pipe.

'l IA further object is to provide means whereby the uid will be automatically drained from the tubing a d workingI assembly when the sameLis being withdrawn, so as' to reduce the weight, and `will be restoredv when the assembly is lowered, ls

that the apparatus is ready for immediate use. Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed de r scriptio and `.''willgs which are intended as. .illustrative only; l,

In `the drawings.: Y I Fig. 1 is a view partlyin section and partly in elevation, showing the complete pumpunit, portions being-broken away and the surface pu'Amping apparatus ybeing. shown in larger scale than the lower portion of the apparatus, a

Eig. 2 is a'l detail vertical sectional view showing y the parts in `a positiomwith the power piston labout to beginl its downward stroke.

FigfS is a view partly in section and partly in l elevation showing the 'power piston at the be- 'ginnin'gofthe11p-stroke.,` Fig. 4y is a. view illustrating the manner in which the fluid from the inside pipe line flows into the j casing as the lstring of tubing and lwork assembly 4arae'being withdrawn fromy the well.VA

HYDRAULIC Pun/[PING Unrr'ron DEEP l WELLS l Referring-to the drawings, the reference char.- acter A denotes the outer wall of a water, oil, or 'other well containing fluid to a level B, and C denotes generally a casing which is lowered into the 5 well and after being placed remains relatively fixed. D denotes arworlzing barrel supported within the casing and adapted to be removedif necessaryy for the repair of the workingparts, the working barrel being attached at the `lower end of a p ipe E. F denotes a power piston adapted to be reciprocated within the Working barrel on the application of fluid pressure, and G denotes a pump piston secured atthe opposite end Aof 'the hollow piston rod H of the power piston F. A

pluralityof, openings located interediate the' ends of the working barrel are designated at I. "f f Briefly stated, working fluid is supplied initially` through pipe E'above the power piston F, forcing ther same downwardly and forcing' thefluid trapped in the lower part of theworkingfbarrel upwardly, thence outwardly through the openings in the worling barrel and then ,upwardly through Y S v-At the end of thevcasing' C toward the surface. a piston stroke the supply o f powerfiuid is auto- 'matically reversed by any suitable means, such as` that described in the companion applicationof AziM. and J. M. Guley Serial No. 209,763, filed December 19, 1939,' whereupon/pressurejuid is 3f); supplied "from above through casing C and thence through the openings I into the working barrel D beneath the piston F forcing the same upwardly together with the pump piston G and at'the same y time drawing more 011 or` the like into the lower 3" portion of the casing from Lthe well itself. This nearly to the bottom thereof. This'portlo'n may be )composed oiqany desired number of sections andat thelower portionthereof` there is. pro-- vided an extensionyll secured thereto by a coupling 2Y having a septum l3` provided with a ceny trai opening I 4 which forms a seat adapted to co` operate with a'shoulder formed onthe working barrel. At-vthe'flower Iportion` of the extension v there. is provided a second coupling member I5 having va septum IB provided with an opening I1 'for admission of'g'ainfluid, 'adapted to be] closed.- g bym'eans of a ball valve I8 having a cage Ig, Ay

suitablestrainer element' 20 is provided'below the coupling I5 and incommunication with the open- C comprises an upperl The casing C is adapted vto be lowered into the well and constitutes a relatively stationary-part of the equipment normally remaining the tubing E and may be withdrawn as a unit from the casing.

As shown, the working barrel D comprises an enlarged upper portion 2l and a reduced lower portion 22 with a shoulder 23 at the juncture between the portions 2| and 22, said shoulder being adapted to engage a corresponding seat 24 formed in the septum I3. In this manner, a fluid-tight connection or drop seat valve is provided separating the interior of the upper. portion of the casing` I from the interior of the extension It will be obvious that the weight of the working barrel and the tubing insures the tightness of the valve lowered in to the casing when the fluid again` flows into the tubing and working barrel.

As shown, the working barrel D is provided with av collar 25 at the upper end thereof and the tubing E is provided with a coupling 26 at,

the lower end thereof. These parts are adapted to have limited sliding movement with reference to each other. The coupling 26 is shown as provided 'with a reduced portion 21 which slidably iits within thev collar 25a lock nut 28 being provided' at the lower end thereof to limit the sliding movement. Openings 29 are'formed in the reduced portion 21 of the/ coupling and Justabove these openings a shoulder 30 is formed which is adapted to fit against a shoulder 3| on the collar 25.a When the parts are in working position the shoulders 30, 3| are in engagement and insure a fluid-tight iit owing to the weight of the tubing. .When, however, the tubing is lifted @hin the` well. The casing being in place, the working barrel D is adapted to be lowered by means.of

At the lower end of the piston rod is located the pump piston 4 2v (G), the purpose of which is to operate uponthe-iluid pumped from the well, said piston comprising a plurality of packing rings surrounding the lower end of the ho 1' low'piston rod H, fluid being adapted to pass up through. the center of the rod as the lowered.

vTo prevent fluid-lock, openings 43 are provided in the piston rod Just above the piston 42,

said openings being provided withvrelief valves 44 of any suitable construction which open on the up-stroke only` of the piston rod, but close automatically at the beginning of the down` stroke.

It will be obvious that by regulating therela-jv tive diameters ofthe pistons F and G (4| and 42) and of the hollow piston rod 33 (H), it will be possible to regulate the pressures necessary to' operate against the static head, which in turn is dependent on the depth of the :wel1. This allows great iiexibility in operationA and permits a given surface pumping apparatus to furnish fluid pressure suilicient for a well of any depth. It is also possible to provide a working piston F of standard size and merely to varythe size of the piston G and the internal diameter of the extension 22 in which the same works. This is i obviously a great advantage from the practical standpoint since it standardi'zes theequipment.

. The surface pumping apparatus shown -at the top of Fig. 1 may be of any desired type and need Y not be described in detail, but'as shown is of the openings 29 are then exposed and any iluid 1 within the tube E drains into the casing C. -The releasable valve connection is in Figs. 2 and 4.

The interior of the upper portion 2| of the working barrel D is separated from the lower portion by a septum 32 having an opening through which passes the hollow piston rod 33, the piston rod being adapted to slide through said opening.

-niost clearly shown A thegeneral type describediand claimed in the copending application of A. M. and J. M. Gurley Serial No..I 200,763 filed April 7, 1938 now Patent No. 2,183,560. This mechanism is designed to automatically supply pressure fluid through pipes 50 and 5| leading tothe pipe E and thecasing vC respectively, the direction of flow being automatically reversed atrthe end of each piston stroke, when a predetermined degree of pressure has been built'upfwhereupon pressure fluid is supplied through the pipe 5| instead of through the pipe'l. This operation continues as long as pressure fluid is supplied to the system.

The general operation of the apparatus will be'apparent from. the foregoing description but will be briefly described forthe purpose of clarity.

Assuming the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, pressure fluid is passed rdown through the tube E forcing the piston F downwardly carrying with it the pump piston G, clos- Suitable packing 3,4`is provided Just above the septum and a cup or packing ring 36 is placed above the packing with a spring 30 pressing downwardly upon the packing ring. A suitable packing nut 31 is adapted to-be screwed'down upon the spring so as to give the same vthe requisite degree of tension. The packing is designed to produce aleak-proof joint between the upper and lower sections 2| and 22 respectively of the working barrel.

' At the upperend of the hollow piston rod there is `provided a valve seat 38 with which a suitable. ball valve 39 .is adapted to engage when forced into. position by fluid pressure. The valve is providedyith a cage 40 and to the upper end of the cage is secured the power piston 4I (F) V.which Vis provided with suitable packing cups or rings.

ing valve Il and opening'valve I9, and forcing any fluid within the extension of the working barrel upwardly through the hollow piston rod into the upper portion of the working barrel and thence through the apertures I therein into the casing C surroundingl the working barrel, rais- Patent No. 2,183,560, whereupon downward pressure is supplied through casing C and openings I -in the working barrel, thence beneath the piston F raising the vsame together with the gainpiston G and drawing fluid into the lower portion of the working barrelpast the valve I8. The operation of the present device diii'ers from that described in' my Patent No. 2,183,560, in that gain fluid is drawn off only during the down stroke of the Piston F whereas 'according to my Patent piston isV with at all times,"said tubing Q casing, and means whereby on of a nftmg 'force to the tubing inthe withdrawal No. 2,183,560 the fluid may be drawn E during both strokes. 4

The apparatus is so designed that by pulling the single inside pipe E the entire working assembly may be drawn'to the surface for reconditioning or replacement withoutthe necessity of pulling two lines as is required in other systems will flow into the casing thus materially reducing the weight to be lifted.. Moreover, when the inside pipeand'working barrel are replaced', the uid displaced thereby returns to the working barrel and inside pipe` line leaving both strings of pipes and tubing full of fluid ready for deliveryof power tothe piston F. This feature makes operation of the pump economical and als o increases the fciency of servicing and installation.

Other advantages of the improved systemv will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are considered as within the scope of thepresent invention. It will also be obvious that numerous modifications and variations in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invention.

I claim: 1. Av deep well pump for oil wells and the like, ,including a casingextending into the well, havprising a string :said working barrel and in open communication lwith said-pumping unit at all times, said pumping unit comprising fluid vinlet from the well communicating with ing a seat near the bottom thereof, a'working l barrel detachably mounted within the casing andresting upon the seat and having an extension projecting below the seat, said working barrel being provided with -a fluid operated pumping member and having inlet and outlet means, an unobstructed -stringof tubing connected to said working barrel and communicating at all times` with said pumping chamber and providing means for withdrawing the working barrel from: the

easing, and means 'whereby'on vthe application of a lifting force to the tubing in the withdrawal of said tubing andworking barrel fromthe well any iiuid in said tubing is allowed to pass into quired.

2. A, deep well pump-as set forth in -'claim i, wherein a fluid-tight connection is provided bewherein said last. named meansxcomprises a re-- -rel, a hollow pump piston ating in the other.

of said tubing and working barrel from the well said casing. 4

6. A deep wellpump comprising a casing ex` tending into the well, a working barrel detachably mounted within the casing having a iluid operated reciprocable pumping unit therein comof hollow tubing connectedA to a y solid pumping piston working in the upper portion of the working bar'- working in the .lower portion of the working barrel, and a hollow piston rod connecting the two, packing means for said piston rod intermediate the two'pistons, a

said pumping piston below the same, a valved` outlet from said hollow pistonrod intermediate y the two pistons, said working barrel having open-` ings between said solid piston and said packing l to permit passage of working fluid to said pumping unit in one direction and to permit. withdrawal vof pumped fiuid when the unit isy voperdirection, and means .whereby on the application of a lifting'force tothe tubing any liquid in said tubing is allowed to pass into said casing, thus reducing quired. n

f '7. deep well pump for oil wells andthe like, including a casing extending into the well andhaving a seat near the bottom thereof, a working rbarrel.- detachablysupported within said casing upon said seat, tubing attached to'- said working barrel, a power piston operating within said working barrel; and a ypump piston actuated therebyfor drawing iiuid from the well, valve controlled means for discharging uid drawn ings intermediate its ends adapted to'permit thecasing, thus reducing the lifting forcere- -leasable valve connection between/ the working barrel and sa'i tubing.

4. A deep well pumpas set forth in vclaim l,v wherein said tubing and said working barrel have a limited sliding movement relative to each other, and the application of a l'rt'ting force te the tubing exposes openings permitting iiuid to \drain from the tubing into the casing. y

5'. A deep lwell pump for oil wells and the likey including a casing extending into the well, a working barrel detachably `mounted withinfthe fluid: operated' reciprocating pump plungerwithin the working barrelyanjunbbf barrel detachably supported, withinsaid. casing casing, a

'structed string of hollow vtubing connected to' said' working barrel normally containing operi barrel intermediate the pistons.

,ating fluid for actuating said pump plunger in f one direction, and in open .communication there-7 providing vmeans for withdrawing the working `barrel from the means for withdrawing the working barrel from theapplication plyingpressure ii-uid rod, and packing means within passage of iluidtto or from said working barrel intoV said casing, and means for alternatelysupto one side or the other of said power piston, from the tubing or from the casing respectively, said tubing providingfmeans for withdrawing theworking barrel i'romgthe casing.

8. A deep well pump as set iorth in claim 7,

wherein the pump pistonis hollow andis con.

nected to the power piston by means of `a hollow piston rod.

9. A deep well pump as set forthin claim '1, wherein the pump' piston 'is hollow an'dds connected to the power piston- 'by ayhollow piston said working l0. A deep well pump as set forth in claim/'1,A

wherein -thfepump piston iis hollowv and is conf nected to the power piston yby a'hollow piston rod,- and packing means within said workirig`. barrellntermediate the pistons, and relief `valve ymeans Vto prevent. fluid lock in the reciproca-'tion of the pump piston.

J, l1. Adeep well pump for oil wells and the like -'comprising a casing extending fromthe ground 7 level. intothe fluid within the well, st .vvorkingl near nthe bottom thereof, a stringV oi' tubi.ng connected withsaid working barrel and providing" the casing, a re'ciprocable plunger. withinL said working`v barrel comprising a `solidlpower piston the lifting force vreat one end, a hollow pump'fpistonatthe other and a hollow rod. connecting the two. packing means for said piston rod intermediate the two pistons, said working barrel having openings between said solid piston and said packing means adapted to permit passage of'iiuid to'orfrom said working barrelinto said casing. means including said tubing and casing for alternately supplying pressure iiuid to one side orthe other of said solid, piston for operating the same, inwardly opening valve means at the bottom of said casing for admitting uid from the well on the upstroke of the plunger, vand a valved opening.from said hollow piston rod into said working barrel to permit iluid to pass on the down stroke of the plunger.t l

12., Adeep well pump for oil wells and the like,

comprislng a casing extending from the groundk level into the iluid within the well, a working barrel detachably supported within said casing near the bottom thereof, a string of hollow tubing connected with said working barrel for supplying working nuid .and providing means for withdrawing the working ban-e1 from the casing, a iluid operated reclprocable pump plunger withd in said working barrel comprisingl solidpower piston at the upper end, a hollow pump piston at the other, and a hollow piston rod connecting the two, said solid piston being in open'communication with said stringo! tubing, packing vand a valve controlled opening from the hollow piston' rod into said working barrel to permit huid drawn from` the well to `pass thereinto on the down stroke of the plunger.

ARNOLD M. GULEY. 

